Garmin or Tom Tom?
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Postmaster
Joined: Dec 2006
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From: Rockford, Il
Garmin or Tom Tom?
I am scouting out a portable gps for my wife for xmas. I am technology impaired, so i can read specs etc, and i chinese menu, and i couldnt tell the difference. My budget is no more than $250, it needs to be portable from vehicle to vehicle and maybe even motorcycle, i would like voice activation, or at least voice directions. what do you use, and why do you like it. i am looking for real world info, things that endeared you to a model because it is real world useable, things you actually use. thank you for the help. Dan
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 164,377
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From: MA
With those 2 choices I would go with the garmin.. I have a garmin Nuvi 350 and it has been good.. Although lately it has been telling me turn Left when I know I need to turn right.. I think I just need to reset it..
I don't have any first hand knowledge of the Tom Tom..
You might want to concider a Magellan Maestro..
My brother has had Garmins, Tom Tom and now the Magellan..
He says the Magellan is much better than the others and he uses his everyday for work...
The problem with GPS shopping is they have many different models in the same line.. You need to decide what options you need..
Some have MP3 players some don't..
my 2 cents
I don't have any first hand knowledge of the Tom Tom..
You might want to concider a Magellan Maestro..
My brother has had Garmins, Tom Tom and now the Magellan..
He says the Magellan is much better than the others and he uses his everyday for work...
The problem with GPS shopping is they have many different models in the same line.. You need to decide what options you need..
Some have MP3 players some don't..
my 2 cents
Hotshot
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 11,537
Likes: 27
From: Long Beach, Ms.
I would go with a Garmin Nuvi myself. Take a look at this site for savings; GPS - Cheap Stingy Bargains
Top rated by Consumer Reports June '08 pg 18; http://www.cheapstingybargains.com/8...ile-navigator/ A$500.00 unit for $250.00 and free shipping.
Top rated by Consumer Reports June '08 pg 18; http://www.cheapstingybargains.com/8...ile-navigator/ A$500.00 unit for $250.00 and free shipping.
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2006
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I really like the Tomtom One XL, however, I was pretty PO'd when I found out I had to pay $79 to update the maps when the salesman told me it was free over the internet. There are some nice features such as being able to upload all of the locations for certain stores for free. It's been very reliable.
Hotshot
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 13,589
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From: NW burbs of chicago
now 4 cents,
I bought 3 of them for my delivery drivers to route themselve anywhere in chicago and the burbs, and these things kick ***, All 3 get used every day. I used to spend an hr using mapquest every day,
once in awhile the garmin cant find something, but it works 98% of the time
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 6,461
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From: Abilene Kansas
garmin really does a good job keeping their maps update and rolling out new stuff. I would go garmin any day!
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Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 4,004
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From: North of Boston MA
Add me to the list of loyal Garmin owners. I have a Nuvi (220 I think) and it does everything I need it to do without all the B.S. options like music playing and so forth. So far it hasn't NOT found something and I've used it a lot. It is so easy to use all I had to do was give it to my wife and she figured it right out - and this is a girl who needs directions for almost anything electronic.
Garmin has been in the GPS business for a long time and I've always been a fan of their products. I had two of them in my plane and they were 100% reliable. It is the only brand I would buy.
$250 will get you a GPS with more features than you will probably need or want. They are all but giving them away now.
Garmin has been in the GPS business for a long time and I've always been a fan of their products. I had two of them in my plane and they were 100% reliable. It is the only brand I would buy.
$250 will get you a GPS with more features than you will probably need or want. They are all but giving them away now.
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Postmaster
Joined: Dec 2006
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From: Rockford, Il
thanks guys, i got her a Garminnuvi 260 i think, hell it is wrapped already. I really did feel Garmin being the old dog was the way to go. the only 2 features i know it has was a large screen, and the speaking of street names as you go. how many times have we heard the dummy that turned into the train tracks, or lake etc. figured the street names kinda made it a tad more dummy proof. thanks everyone, i appreciated the input it helped. Dan
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,511
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From: Marion, VA
I hope the Garmin you got has the latest map update. The newest update is 2009. I bought mine a couple of years ago and it didn't have the latest update. I didn't worry about it until I got on an interstate a few weeks ago that didn't exist when my map was made. It went crazy when it thought I was going through an open field. I got my update off of e-bay for $58.00. It costs $69.99 at retail. You simply put the DVD in your computer, hook up the GPS and it updates in about 2 hours.
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2002
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From: Twin Cities, MN
I have a garmin nuvi 350 too. I do like it but what I would like with it is a mount that you screw to the dash instead of a suction cup that only holds to the windshield. The round sticky disc you get with the thing doesn't seem to want to stick to the dash.
Reason I want it on the dash is for traveling. I use those window covers on the inside of the vehicle to keep the hot sun out and to keep wondering eyes from looking in to see what they can see. And some wondering eyes will look at windshields for the round spots that the suction cup leaves and break in that vehicle to look for the gps.
As to updated maps I have not done that since I got it last year. I don't intead to update it anytime soon. I use the gps as a guide to help me get where I'm going and I don't rely on it 100%.
Reason I want it on the dash is for traveling. I use those window covers on the inside of the vehicle to keep the hot sun out and to keep wondering eyes from looking in to see what they can see. And some wondering eyes will look at windshields for the round spots that the suction cup leaves and break in that vehicle to look for the gps.
As to updated maps I have not done that since I got it last year. I don't intead to update it anytime soon. I use the gps as a guide to help me get where I'm going and I don't rely on it 100%.
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